Naas vs Queens | 28 Sept | Matchday Programme

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC

QUEENS

Saturday 28 September 2024 Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30 Match Referee: Stuart Gaffikin

Image thanks Michael Linehan Photography

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and in particular our visitors from Queen’s University Belfast and their President Ian McAvoy to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture.

It is an honour for me to fill the role of President of Naas RFC for the upcoming season, and I feel privileged to represent our club.

If last season’s two fixtures between these clubs are anything to go by, we are in for a treat this afternoon. Both sides endeavour to attack at every possible opportunity, and they amassed no less than 147 points in those games. Our visitors emerged victorious on both occasions and our side will be no doubt eager to reverse those defeats this afternoon.

Congratulations to Will O’Brien on his appointment as Club Captain for the season and I wish him and the squad a very successful season. Last week we began our League campaign with a narrow 19-17 loss away to Highfield. Although beaten, it was a superb performance by Naas and there were plenty of positives to take out of the game. Queen’s University also began well with a fine 19-13 home win over Shannon, setting up what should be a great tussle here today. I wish both sets of players an injury free game.

For those of you may be visiting us here in Forenaughts for the first time, you are more than welcome. For those returning for another season of quality rugby, it’s great to see you again!

The club is putting the finishing touches to the upcoming Annual Business Lunch in Lawlors Hotel on Friday October 25th, kindly sponsored by Arachas. Due to popular demand this event is nearly sold out. To secure your place, please contact Gerry McGrath on (087) 2997 864 as soon as possible.

I would like to thank our club sponsors for their continued support. A list of their names is at the back of the programme, and I would encourage you to support them where possible.

Can I request from everyone attending today that they respect the match officials.

Without them we would have no game.

Enjoy the match and don’t forget that next Saturday we travel to face Shannon, before meeting Old Wesley here on October 19th, and all support will be greatly appreciated.

Gerry Prendergast President Naas RFC 2024/25

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK

1. Conor Doyle Naas AIL Caps: 85

2. Aidan O’Kane Naas AIL Caps: 6

4. Koloa Aisake Naas AIL Caps: 1

3. Adam Deay Naas AIL Caps: 1

5. James O’Loughlin Naas AIL Caps: 15

6. Eoin Walsh Naas AIL Caps: 70 8. Ryan Casey Naas AIL Caps: 103

7. Will O’Brien Captain Naas AIL Caps: 120

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK

9. Cormac King Naas AIL Caps: 1 10. Peter Osborne Naas AIL Caps: 153

11. Jack Sheridan Naas AIL Caps: 23

12. Paddy Taylor Naas AIL Caps: 1

13. Charlie Sheridan Naas AIL Caps: 36 14. Donal Conroy Naas AIL Caps: 54

15. James O’Kane Naas AIL Caps: 1

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT

16. Francisco Bartorelli Naas AIL Caps: 12 17. Kaleem Niazi Naas AIL Caps: 1

18. Darragh Murphy Naas AIL Caps: 1 19. Muiris Cleary Naas AIL Caps: 21 20. Michal Haznar Naas AIL Caps: 3

21. Lenny Valley Naas AIL Caps: 1

QUEENS MATCHDAY SQUAD 1. Loose-head Prop Tyrese Abohalorin

2. Hooker Zac Soloman

4. Second Row Paddy McAlpine 6. Blind-side Flanker Oliver Hughes

5. Second Row James McKillop

8. Number 8 Tom Brigg

9. Scrum Half Harvey Patterson

3. Tight-head Prop Jack Boal (Capt)

7. Open-side Flanker Henry Walker

10. Out Half Eamonn Rodgers

11. Left Wing Ben McFarlene 12. Inside Centre Callum Florence

13. Outside Centre Ryan Street 14. Right Ring Ethan Patterson

15. Full Back Rory Telfer

REPLACEMENTS 16. Joshua Stewart 17. Martin Meehan 18. Dylan McCauley 19. Josh Bunting 20. Dan Green 21. Fraser Cunningham

Fixtures & Results

Division 1B Table

Date 21 Sep 28 Sep 05 Oct 19 Oct 26 Oct 09 Nov 16 Nov 07 Dec 14 Dec 11 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 08 Feb 15 Feb 01 Mar 22 Mar 29 Mar 05 Apr

Home Highfield Naas Shannon Naas Naas Dublin University Naas Nenagh Ormond Naas Old Belvedere Naas Blackrock College Naas UCC Old Wesley Naas Queens Naas

Score 19 – 17 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0

Away Naas Queens Naas Old Wesley UCC Naas Blackrock College Naas Old Belvedere Naas Nenagh Ormond Naas Dublin University Naas Naas Shannon Naas Highfield

Highfield 19 – 17 Naas | 21/09/24 | Match Report Naas began their 2024/2025 Energia All-Ireland League campaign last Saturday, travelling to Woodleigh Park in Cork to face Highfield. This venue has not been kind to Naas over the years, as they have shipped some heavy beatings there, but buoyed by their recent Leinster League success there was genuine optimism that this trend could be reversed.

Unfortunately, defeat was again the fate for Naas, but only after a titanic battle.

Amazingly only seven of the Naas match day squad from the corresponding fixture last January lined out on this occasion, but this new look side certainly were not intimidated by the surroundings here and gave as good as they got and took what could be an extremely valuable losing point away with them.

Naas started with a slight wind advantage at their backs and played down the notorious hill in Woodleigh Park, but they were shocked by the concession of a soft try after just six minutes. They conceded a penalty for not rolling away at a ruck, and the Highfield scrum-half Richard Cassidy caught them off guard by taking a quick tap. He raced clear and ran in unopposed to score a try. Shane O’Riordan failed with his conversion attempt, but the home lead by five points to nil.

The game then settled into a familiar pattern with Naas trying to move the ball at every possible opportunity and play an expansive game, while Highfield content to play mostly ten-man rugby and keep things extremely tight.

The home side spurned a great chance to increase their lead after 20 minutes.

An attempted clearance by the Naas scrum-half Cormac King was charged down, and subsequently the away side were penalised for offside in their attempt to gather the loose ball.

Highfield kicked to touch and after the line-out take by Eoin Keating, they set up their famed driving maul. However, Naas defended this superbly leading to Highfield themselves being penalised for sealing off the ball.

You could sense that Naas were settling into the game, and they struck after 26 minutes. Charlie Sheridan made a half break in midfield and when stopped he found the supporting Aidan O’Kane. The Naas hooker sprinted for 50 yards and when he was hauled down just before the line, the ball was quickly recycled and moved out to Paddy Taylor who scored under the posts. Peter Osborne tapped over the conversion and the visitors were in front by 7-5.

Highfield stormed back on the attack and for the next ten minutes they threw everything at Naas, but the visitors defence would not yield and eventually forced a penalty to clear their lines.

Within sixty seconds they were further in front with a brilliantly worked try. The penalty was kicked down to the tenmetre line and the subsequent line-out was taken by James O’Loughlin. The ball was moved to Aidan O’Kane and his lovely inside pass to Jack Sheridan split the Highfield defence apart. Sheridan drew his opponent before passing to Eoin Walsh who finished off the move for a great try. Peter Osborne added the conversion.

Highfield 19 – 17 Naas | 21/09/24 | Match Report Four minutes into first-half injury time Naas were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on Conor Doyle and Peter Osborne made no mistake with his penalty attempt from the ten-yard line.

Referee Tomas O’Sullivan blew the halftime whistle immediately afterwards with Naas in front by 17 points to five.

Highfield needed the first score of the second half, and they got it after 49 minutes. After winning a penalty they opted to go to touch and set up a driving maul. This time Naas were unable to stop it, and Travis Coomey got in for a try which Shane O’Riordan converted.

Naas did not get many scoring opportunities in the second period but will rue one that got away after 57 minutes. A brilliant kick by Donal Conroy saw a 50-22 being awarded, but the referee penalised Naas for a line-out infringement which appeared very harsh, and the chance was gone.

Highfield again set up a driving maul after 62 minutes, but this time Naas were able to contain it and eventually won a penalty after the home side were forced to hold on at a subsequent ruck.

But the Corkmen’s persistence with the driving maul paid off after 70 minutes.

By this time Naas were down to 14 men after Adam Deay had received a yellow card for a high tackle and not surprisingly when Highfield were awarded a penalty they again went to touch. The line-out was taken by David O’Connell, the maul powered over the line and led to Max Abbott being awarded the try. The conversion by Shane O’Riordan was successful and Highfield were back in front by 19 - 17.

The home side managed to see out the remaining time quite comfortably, but they were mightily relieved when the full-time whistle was blown as they had received quite a scare.

Although Naas will be bitterly disappointed after coming so close to victory, they can take major positives from this performance. Highfield is one of toughest places in the country to get anything in. Yet this young Naas squad with no less than eight AIL debutantes left with a losing bonus point. An exciting season awaits.

Highfield: Jamie Shanahan, Luke Kingston, Elliott Smith, David O’Sullivan, Colin O’Neill, Shane O’Riordan, Richard Cassidy, James Rochford, Travis Coomey (capt), Daragh Fitzgerald, Eoin Keating, David O’Connell, Aidan Keane, Mark Fitzgibbon, Miah Cronin.

Replacements: Max Abbott, Corey Hanlon, David O’Halloran, Pat McBarron, Angus Lloyd, Noah Patterson.

Naas: James O’Kane, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Jack Sheridan, Peter Osborne, Cormac King, Conor Doyle, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, Eoin Walsh, James O’Loughlin, Darragh Murphy, Will O’Brien (capt), Ryan Casey. Replacements: Francisco Bartorelli, Kaleem Niazi, Koloa Aisake, Muiris Cleary, Michal Haznar, Lenny Valley Referee: Tomás O’Sullivan.

MATCH REPORT: MARK HERBERT

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